This is what the Lord asks of you: only this, to act justly, to love tenderly, and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:1
Humility overcomes the pride that makes us think a little too highly of ourselves. With humility we see ourselves as we are in the eyes of God. It’s tough to do because we’re at the same time pathetic failures and more glorious than we can imagine. It involves one of those delicious paradoxes that show life this side of heaven to be always unfinished, unresolved, mysterious. G. K. Chesterton asked, “Which of us has his wish in this world, or, having it, is satisfied?”
Looking up
There’s nothing like an eclipse of the sun to dim our pride. The ancients, who had guilty consciences too, assumed God was mad at them. We can “explain” an eclipse, but it still gives us pause to realize that the very light we see the world by and grow our crops by is not under our control.
Looking down
I thought a lot about pride and humility this past week as I saw some running over people they didn’t like and others bringing down statues of people they didn’t like. Is bringing down a man of bronze the same as bringing down a man of flesh? No. But the motive starts in the same place: lack of humility. That is, thinking too highly of the excellence we have brought to our actions. I recognized it because I see it in myself.
We need the light of Christ to make up for the eclipse of our reason when we’re tempted to self-righteously look down on others.
What I recognized in them, and in me, was wanting to call someone else all-wrong so I can be all-right. How convenient—except, I’m not all-right.
Humility frees us to condemn sin without taking someone else’s sin personally. They is us. I pray that the evil in my own heart will not eclipse seeing myself and others as they are: children of God who are sometimes very flawed and in need of my prayers. And I’ve noticed that the things we get maddest about in other people are flaws we have ourselves.
Looking ahead
But there is hope. We’ve got the rest of our lives, starting now, to speak the truth and act on that truth in love.
If you want peace, work for justice. Pope Paul VI
We want to be all-right because that is our destiny—to be one with the God who is Truth. Today, we can work toward that as we wait for heaven, where there will be no more eclipse of the sun, or of our vision.
Love always,
Rose
Marti Otten
Spot ON Rose! I say that “the victim and victimizer are one. ”
‘Life is about loving and forgiving and ascendant peaceability.’
Tom Roberts
Thank you Rose
I stand sufficed. I can’t add a thing to what you have written.
Claire
Thank you for waking me up. I recognized myself of all my many faults, especially humility.
Rose Folsom
God bless you, Claire. Thanks for your comment.
Rose
Georgia
Introspection is always good for the soul. Very Cleansing. God’s mercy be upon us all.
Rose Folsom
Georgia,
Amen — Christ has already won the victory and we all need His mercy.
Rose
Debbie
Thank you for pointing out that sin is the issue on all sides
Rose Folsom
Debbie,
It brings to mind Jesus telling me to take the beam out of my own eye :)
Rose
Sal
Sal
You’ve touched on a very important spiritual battle facing all of us. Many folks out there have the mistaken belief that sins of the flesh are truly bad. Although they are bad, the worst one is the sin of Pride as this is pure spirit. Recall, that Satan was a brilliant angel until he decided he no longer wanted to worship our Lord, but wanted to be God himself. Hence, he and his minions were cast out of Heaven!
Our Lord, Christ Jesus gave us the Beautitudes the first and foremost is-Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. Humility is the antidote to Pride.
Peace in Christ!